Ford Motor Firm has been overtaken in international automobile gross sales for the primary time by Chinese language electrical automotive big BYD, underscoring the dramatic shift underneath manner within the international automotive trade.
Ford’s gross sales slipped 2 per cent final yr to simply underneath 4.4 million automobiles, whereas BYD offered 4.6 million, climbing to sixth place within the international rankings of automotive producers.
The milestone is symbolic for an trade formed by Ford’s legacy. Founder Henry Ford revolutionised mass automotive possession with the Mannequin T within the early twentieth century. Greater than a century later, the corporate that outlined industrial automotive manufacturing is being outpaced by a Chinese language electrical automobile specialist.
BYD’s progress has been pushed by its increasing portfolio of reasonably priced, high-tech electrical and plug-in hybrid automobiles. Amongst its finest sellers are the SEAL U DM-i and the Dolphin electrical metropolis automotive, priced at underneath £19,000 in some markets.
In distinction, Ford has scaled again lower-cost small automobiles in Europe, phasing out the Ford Fiesta throughout the pandemic and pivoting in the direction of higher-margin SUVs and crossovers. Its entry-level Puma now begins at greater than £26,000.
Ford’s gross sales within the US rose, however the firm has misplaced floor in Europe and China — markets the place electrical competitors is intensifying.
Felipe Munoz, an unbiased automotive analyst, mentioned the development was extensively anticipated. “BYD remains to be in enlargement mode. Even when gross sales in China sluggish, it’s counting on exports to develop,” he mentioned.
“Ford, in the meantime, stays closely depending on the US, the place progress is modest, and has solely a minor presence in China. Europe can be stagnant. This divergence is prone to proceed.”
Western carmakers, together with Ford, have struggled to navigate the electrical automobile transition. In December, Ford took a $19.5bn (£14bn) cost to cut back EV manufacturing, citing weaker-than-expected demand.
Munoz mentioned Ford’s electrification technique was sophisticated by its publicity to North America. “North American shoppers should not passionate about electrical automobiles, and authorities assist has been inconsistent,” he mentioned.
Ford has tried to regain a foothold in China by way of a three way partnership with Jiangling Motors, launching an all-electric model of its Bronco SUV. Nonetheless, its Chinese language market share has fallen from practically 5 per cent a decade in the past to lower than 2 per cent immediately.
“Let’s see how the Bronco Electrical performs,” Munoz mentioned. “However to date, nothing vital has modified.”
Regardless of international challenges, Ford stays Britain’s third-largest automotive model. Based on the Society of Motor Producers and Merchants, it offered about 119,000 automobiles within the UK in 2025, representing a 5.9 per cent market share, an 8 per cent enhance on the earlier yr.
BYD, whereas nonetheless smaller within the UK, is rising quickly. It offered round 51,400 automobiles final yr, attaining a 2.5 per cent market share, however with gross sales rising virtually sixfold.
On the prime of the worldwide league desk, Toyota retained its crown for the sixth consecutive yr with gross sales of 11.3 million automobiles.
For Ford and different Western producers, BYD’s ascent alerts greater than only a rating shift, it displays a deeper rebalancing of energy in an trade more and more outlined by electrification, value effectivity and Chinese language technological ambition.
Jamie Younger
Jamie is Senior Reporter at Enterprise Issues, bringing over a decade of expertise in UK SME enterprise reporting.
Jamie holds a level in Enterprise Administration and often participates in trade conferences and workshops.
When not reporting on the newest enterprise developments, Jamie is enthusiastic about mentoring up-and-coming journalists and entrepreneurs to encourage the subsequent era of enterprise leaders.
